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Projection of visual elements and graphical elements in a 3d ui

Projection of visual elements and graphical elements in a 3d ui description/claims

This invention relates generally to electronic devices and, more specifically, relates to user interfaces in electronic devices.

Most information presented by a computer is provided to a user through visual information on a user interface presented on a display. However, the ability of the user to perceive visual information is limited. One such limitation is the area of active vision, which is small due to physiological reasons, e.g., the structure of an eye. Another limitation occurs in the displays themselves. For instance, mobile devices in particular have small screens that need to present a wide range of information. At the same time, mobile devices need to provide a user with information such as the current interaction, connectivity, and status.

One technique being attempted, for both small and large displays, is to use a three-dimensional (3D) UI instead of a two-dimensional (2D) UI. A 3D UI has the potential to place more information into a smaller area.

A traditional 3D user interface (UI) is constructed from 3D objects that can be manipulated. The role of lights in the 3D space used to define the 3D UI is quite limited, as only object shadows and ambient lighting are generally shown. It is also well known that if a complex 3D UI would be constructed similarly to a 2D UI, the 3D UI would be larger in terms of file size (e.g., megabits). The file size of a 3D UI (e.g., which is proportional to the complexity of a 3D scene) is often considered the biggest obstacle to implementation of 3D UIs. Furthermore, this obstacle has been considered to reduce availability of 3D UIs. Consequently, there is currently no evolutionary stage between traditional 2D UIs and 3D UIs.

In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes determining user interface data based at least on a projection of visual element information from a projector at a first location in a three-dimensional space onto a screen object defined in the space. The screen object forms at least a portion of a user interface. The method includes determining an area of the screen object viewable by a camera positioned in a second location in the three dimensional space, and communicating the user interface data corresponding to the area to a display interface suitable for coupling to one or more displays.

In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a display interface suitable for coupling to at least one display and includes at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to determine user interface data based at least on a projection of visual element information from a projector at a location in a three-dimensional space onto a screen object defined in the space, wherein the screen object forms at least a portion of a user interface. The at least one processor is further configured to determine an area of the screen object viewable by a camera positioned in a second location in the three dimensional space, and the at least one processor is also configured to communicate the user interface data corresponding to the area to the display interface.

In an additional exemplary embodiment, a computer-readable medium is disclosed that includes program instructions tangibly embodied thereon. Execution of the program instructions result in operations including determining user interface data based at least on a projection of visual element information from a projector at a first location in a three-dimensional space onto a screen object defined in the space. The screen object forms at least a portion of a user interface. The operations also include determining an area of the screen object viewable by a camera positioned in a second location in the three dimensional space, and communicating the user interface data corresponding to the area to a display interface suitable for coupling to at least one display.

In a further exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes means for determining user interface data based at least on a projection of visual element information from a projector at a first location in a three-dimensional space onto a screen object defined in the space, wherein the screen object forms at least a portion of a user interface. The apparatus also includes means for determining an area of the screen object viewable by a camera positioned in a second location in the three dimensional space and means for communicating the user interface data corresponding to the area to a display interface suitable for coupling to at least one display.

The foregoing and other aspects of embodiments of this invention are made more evident in the following Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments, when read in conjunction with the attached Drawing Figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an electronic device suitable for implementing the exemplary embodiments of the disclosed invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a front view of a 3D UI.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a 3D space used to create the front view shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an example of a front view of a 3D UI created by projecting graphical elements onto a screen object (e.g., surface) of the UI.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a 3D space used to create the front view shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an example of a front view of a 3D UI having a shadow (e.g., silhouette).

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a 3D space used to create the front view shown in FIG. 7.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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